On WFAN: David Ortiz Has A Ton Of Respect For Yankees Fans

David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 in Game 6 of the 2013 World Series at Fenway Park on October 30, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 in Game 6 of the 2013 World Series at Fenway Park on October 30, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

David Ortiz

Big Papi joined WFAN co-hosts Marc Malusis and Kim Jones in the studio on Friday morning to talk Mariano Rivera — who he considers a big brother — his charity work and all things baseball.

And while many Yankees fans despise the designated hitter, the nine-time All-Star told the co-hosts that he has a ton of respect for Yankee Nation.

“I totally understand that when you take the field, (and you) play for the Red Sox and are competing against the Yankees, you definitely — as a Yankees fan — are gonna boo a Red Sox player,” the three-time World Series champion told Malusis and Jones. “But I can tell you one thing. Yankees fans have shown me a lot of respect here, and I always take that as pride. I’ve always seen that from the fans here.

“I understand the fact that they don’t want to see you (succeed). You’re competing against their team … I have a lot of Yankees fans coming to me and saying, ‘Hey, look, I’ll be honest with you. I’m a Yankees fan, but I respect you.’ And that’s something that means a lot to me.”